CVE-2015-7178 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The ProgramBinary::linkAttributes function in libGLES in ANGLE, as used in Mozilla Firefox before 41.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x before 38.3 on Windows, mishandles shader access, which allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via crafted (1) OpenGL or (2) WebGL content.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2015-7178 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the ANGLE graphics library's shader handling mechanism. This issue specifically affects the ProgramBinary::linkAttributes function which is responsible for managing shader attributes during graphics rendering operations. The vulnerability exists in the Windows implementation of Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 41.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x versions prior to 38.3, making it particularly dangerous for users running these older browser versions on Windows operating systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper handling of shader access within the ANGLE library's graphics processing pipeline. When the ProgramBinary::linkAttributes function processes shader attributes, it fails to properly validate or sanitize input data from crafted OpenGL or WebGL content. This flaw allows attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully constructed shader code that exploits the improper bounds checking and memory management within the graphics driver interface. The vulnerability manifests as a classic buffer overflow condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users as it enables remote code execution through web-based attacks. Attackers can craft malicious WebGL or OpenGL content that, when rendered by the vulnerable Firefox browser, triggers the memory corruption scenario. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service conditions where applications crash or become unstable. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no local privileges and can be delivered through standard web browsing activities, making it particularly dangerous for general users. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript and T1566.001: Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability primarily involves immediate updating of affected Firefox installations to versions 41.0 or later for regular releases and 38.3 or later for ESR releases. Organizations should also implement browser hardening measures including disabling WebGL support where possible, implementing content security policies, and maintaining updated security patches across all systems. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The fix implemented by Mozilla addressed the underlying memory management issue in the ANGLE library's shader attribute handling, ensuring proper bounds checking and memory validation before processing user-supplied graphics content.